Trim for a wheel rim

ABSTRACT

A trim for a wheel rim, in particular, an alloy wheel rim for a vehicle includes an annulus with an inturned outer rim to define radial and axial faces, which can be located over and around an outer lip of the wheel rim. A plurality of grippers are spaced around the circumference of the outer rim such that the trim can be secured to the wheel rim. A resilient insert is located around the radial and axial faces, defined on the inner side of the annulus, to cushion the trim against the wheel rim.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a trim for a wheel rim and inparticular but not exclusively, to a protective trim for an alloy wheelrim of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Alloy wheel rims for automobiles are expensive accessories which can beeasily damaged if the wheel of the vehicle strikes or grazes a kerbstoneor other similar obstruction. Protective wheel trims are known which canbe fitted to a wheel assembly to cover the annular edge of a wheel rim.These trims may be provided solely for aesthetic reasons but some alsoprovide some degree of protection to the edge of the wheel rim. However,many of them suffer from the disadvantage that they interfere with thefitting of the tire to the rim and some affect the sealing fit betweenthe tire and the wheel rim. Such interference may be dangerous if theseal is in danger of being breached and as a consequence may contravenenational and international standards which control the interface betweenautomobile tires and their rims for safety reasons.

The object of the present invention is to provide a trim for a wheel rimwhich does not interfere with the aforesaid interface and which willprovide some degree of protection for the wheel rim against impactdamage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a trim for a wheelrim comprising an annulus with an inturned outer rim to define radialand axial faces, which can be located over and around an outer lip ofthe wheel rim, and a plurality of grippers spaced around thecircumference of the outer rim by means of which the trim can be securedto the wheel rim, and a resilient insert which is located around theradial and axial faces defined on the inner side of the annulus tocushion the trim against the wheel rim.

Preferably, the outer rim is inturned at 90° to the outer radial face ofthe annulus.

Preferably also, the grippers are integrally formed with the inturnedouter rim of the annulus.

Preferably also, the grippers comprise tangs which can be deformed sothat they bite into an axial outer face of the wheel rim to secure thetrim to the wheel rim. Advantageously, each gripper is substantiallyrectangular or trapezoidal and defines a tang at each of its projectingcorners.

Preferably also, at least six grippers are provided equidistantly spacedaround the annulus.

Preferably also, the surface of the insert adapted to contact the wheelrim is coated with an adhesive to provide an additional means ofsecurement for the trim.

Preferably also, the inner rim of the annulus is at least partiallyinturned.

Preferably also, the resilient insert is molded in position on the innerside of the annulus.

Preferably also, the outer surface of the insert is contoured so as tobe complementary in shape to the outer lip of a wheel rim over which itis intended to be fitted.

Preferably also, the annulus is made from rolled and pressed stainlesssteel.

Preferably also, the insert comprises a rubber or other similarlyresilient material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

An example of the present invention will now be described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a trim according to the inventionoperatively positioned on wheel rim;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a section of the trim shown in FIG. Ibefore attachment to the wheel rim; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view, to a reduced scale, of the trim to showthe location of grippers which form an integral part thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A wheel assembly of a vehicle, as shown in FIG. 1 comprises a wheel rim1 defining an outwardly projecting flange 2. The inner side of theflange 2 thereby forms a seating to receive and seal with a tire bead 3.The outer side of the flange 2 is conventionally provided with aprojecting lip 4. A trim 5 according to the present invention is adaptedto be secured to the wheel rim 1 to cover and thereby provide a degreeof protection for the lip 4.

The trim 5 comprises an annulus 6 which may be formed from bright rolledand pressed stainless steel or other suitable material. The annulus 6 isprovided with an inturned outer rim 7, which is preferably inturned at90° so that the annulus 6 thereby defines radial and axial faces. Thesefaces locate over and around the projecting lip 4 of the wheel rim 1.The inner rim 8 of the annulus 6 is also at least partially inturned toprovide a safe edge for handling the trim 5 and also to improve theappearance of the trim 5 when in use.

While the annulus 6 could be manufactured by being pressed from a steelsheet, it is more easily manufactured by being pressed from a steelstrip and then rolled to form the annular shape with the aforementionedcross-sectional profile. The adjoining ends of the strip can then bejoined together by welding using a conventional welding process such aselectron beam or laser welding.

The outer rim 7 of the trim 5 provided with a plurality of grippers 9,which are integrally formed with and equidistantly spaced around thecircumference of the outer rim 7 as shown in FIG. 3. Preferably, atleast six grippers 9 are provided by means of which the trim can besecured to the wheel rim 1. The grippers 9 comprise curving rectangularor trapezoidal members that define tangs 10 with sharp edges at theirprojecting corners. By elastically deforming the grippers 9, for exampleby hammering around the rim in an axial direction using a soft-facedhammer, the sharp edges of the tangs 10 can be made to bite into theaxial outer face 1I1 of the flange 2 of the wheel rim 1 to secure thetrim 5 in position over the lip 4.

A resilient insert 12 is located around the radial and axial facesdefined by the inner side of the annulus 6 in order to cushion the trim5 against the wheel rim 1. The insert 12 preferably comprises a rubberor other similarly resilient material. While the insert 12 could bepush-fitted into position into the curving interior defined by the innerside of the annulus 5, preferably it is molded in situ by injectionmolding or similar conventional process. As different models ofautomobiles and alloy wheel trims have slightly different profiles,preferably the outer surface of the insert is contoured as at 13 so asto be complementary in shape to the projecting lip 4 of the wheel rim 1over which it is intended to be fitted. This spreads the load of anyimpact over a larger portion of the rim 1 and thereby provides a bettercushioning effect, with actual damage to the rim 1 being less likely ifthe impact is only minor. The insert 12 also aids the fitting of thetrim 5 to the wheel rim 1.

In order to assist in the securement of the trim 5 to the wheel rim 1,the exposed surface 14 of the insert 12 that is adapted to contact thewheel rim 1 is coated with an adhesive. The adhesive may be arapid-curing or contact adhesive that is applied manually immediatelybefore fitment of the trim 5 the wheel rim 1. Alternatively, theadhesive may be applied when the trim 5 is manufactured and covered by apeelable release liner (not shown) that can be peeled off to expose theadhesive immediately prior to fitment.

Fitment of the trim 5 to a vehicle wheel rim 1 is accomplished bylocating the trim 5 over the projecting lip 4 of a wheel rim so that theinsert 12 can adhere closely to the apposed surface of the lip 4 and thewheel rim 1 and so that at least one and preferably two grippers 9 arein close contact with the axial outer face 11 of the flange 2 of thewheel rim 1. The other grippers 9 can then be hammered into grippingcontact with the face 11 by a hide-faced hammer or similar tool.

1. A trim for a wheel rim comprising: an annulus with an inturned outerrim defining radial and axial faces thereof, the outer rim beinglocatable over and around an outer lip of the wheel rim; a plurality ofgrippers spaced around the a circumference of the outer rim and insecuring relation for the outer rim to the wheel rim; and a resilientinsert located around the radial and axial faces defined on an innerside of the annulus in cushioning relation between the outer rim againstthe wheel rim.
 2. A trim as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer rim isinturned at 90° to the outer radial face of the annulus.
 3. A trim asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the grippers are integrally formed with theinturned outer rim of the annulus.
 4. A trim as claimed in claim 1,wherein the grippers comprise tangs which deformed deformable so thatthe tangs bite into an axial outer face of the wheel rim to secure theouter rim to the wheel rim.
 5. A trim as claimed in claim 4, whereineach gripper is substantially rectangular and comprises a tang at eachprojecting corner thereof.
 6. A trim as claimed in claim 1, wherein atleast six grippers are provided equidistantly spaced around the annulus.7. A trim as claimed in claim 1, wherein a surface of the insert adaptedto contact the wheel rim is coated with an adhesive providing anadditional securement for the trim for the outer to the wheel rim.
 8. Atrim as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner rim of the annulus is atleast partially inturned.
 9. A trim as claimed in claim 1, wherein theresilient insert is molded in position on the inner side of the annulus.10. A trim as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the insertis contoured so as to be complementary in shape to the outer lip of awheel rim.
 11. A trim as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annulus iscomprised of rolled and pressed stainless steel.
 12. A trim as claimedin claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a rubber or other similarlyresilient material.